Archive for April 2015

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) is currently accepting applications for the 2015 APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship. This scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students looking to network and learn more about psychiatric-mental health nursing…

Nurses can help transform the nation’s health care system, create healthier communities, and build a Culture of Health. But what are the keys to becoming a nurse leader? From stepping outside of your comfort zone to finding a mentor, leaders from the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action and the 2014 “Breakthrough Leaders in Nursing” share their advice.

The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action applauds Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and the state legislature for approving legislation that will allow nurse practitioners to practice to the full extent of their training and education. It’s a change that will mean more access to health care for the Cornhusker State.

“With a shortage of primary care providers, tens of thousands of newly insured people seeking health care and an aging population, more states ought to follow Nebraska’s lead in allowing advanced practice nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training,” said Winifred Quinn, director of advocacy and consumer affairs for the Center to Champion Nursing in America at AARP. “It’s vital for the health of our communities and nation.”

As one of the nation’s largest health insurers, UnitedHealth Group (UHG) is always looking to provide accessible, high-quality, patient-centered programs at lower cost. It found a winner in HouseCalls, a nurse-led care management program that’s been a staple since 2012 of its Medicare Advantage plans, including AARP Medicare Complete.

Last year, the innovative model saw nurse practitioners make nearly 753,000 visits to UnitedHealthcare members’ homes to give patients physical exams, take medical and social histories, complete medication reviews, provide counseling and education, and coordinate with members’ primary care providers. These nurse practitioners help connect patients with other services—such as behavioral health, nutritional or social programs—to keep members healthy and independent.

The Campaign for Action’s state Action Coalition in Montana is taking steps to address the obstacles many Native Americans face to becoming nurses. Those barriers include family obligations, discriminatory treatment in nursing schools, and a lack of tradition of pursuing higher education, according to Casey Blumenthal, RN, Montana Action Coalition co-lead and vice president of MHA – An Association of Montana Health Care Providers.

While the Native American population in Montana is 6.5 percent, Native Americans make up only about 2.3 percent of the nurses in the state.

No two words more accurately describe the nation’s nursing profession. A full 83 percent of nurses are white, and about 90 percent are female.

In a world of fast-changing demographics, many recognize those statistics need to change and that our nation needs a nursing workforce that is more representative of the people it serves.

That’s why creating and fostering a more diverse workforce of nurses that reflects America’s demographics, provides culturally competent care, and contributes to reducing health disparities that exist between different groups is a key goal of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a joint initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and AARP. The Campaign is working to implement recommendations from the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) landmark 2010 report on the future of nursing.

Legislation is moving through the Florida Senate that would severely restrict new four-year degree programs at community colleges. This would make it more difficult for these institutions to offer needed BSN programs.

Amid Calls for a More Highly Educated RN Workforce,
New AACN Data Confirm Enrollment Surge in Schools of Nursing WASHINGTON, DC, March 9, 2015 – According to new data released today by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), enrollment in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral nursing programs increased last year as more nurses answered the call to achieve higher levels of education. With the greatest gains found in baccalaureate degree-completion programs and the practice-focused doctorate, students are returning to nursing school in record numbers to develop the skills needed to meet employer demands and patient care needs.